Iron

[avalon]

Now the perennial question is do you dig iron or ignore it, obviously if you dug everything you would never progress further than 10 sq m in a day, but it’s always worth digging occasionally just to have a peek, you might surprise yourselves. If you find a few bits or iron it can lead to other objects in association , like I found here. Many  machines claim  to see through  iron, but you will be losing  many items along the way.

[jtalbot0001]

Hi Avalon,

Thanks for your reply about my Axes, much appreciated!!

I'm glad you put this post up as I wanted to ask something about Iron finds. To answer your question, I use the etrac, and although its meant to discriminate iron I actually do dig iron finds, either being horse shoes, keys or another find was a foot pattern. So I do dig them, unintentionally as they sound like good signals to me.

What I wanted to ask was, what is the best thing to coat and preserve iron finds with?? I have 3 iron keys that have been cleaned but are just starting to crumble ever so slightly. So I am hoping that I can get/use something to at least slow down the process. I am told either to use oil/olive oil? Bees wax? What about Renaissance Wax??

Cheers,
Jon

[Chef Geoff]

Jon the best thing is similar to to how they conserve things for museums. If yu notice iron objets in there are usually black rather than rusty coloured and that's due to them using a rust converter on them.
This actually turns the rust in to a different compound which won't rust any further.
This is what you need;
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p51990

[jtalbot0001]

Thanks a million Geoff!! Is that stuff like a paint and you paint the stuff on? Is it reversable, not that I want to remove it but just nice to know? Thanks again, Jon. Thanks for your reply to my Axes with estimates etc too!

[Chef Geoff]

No it's like water but it changes the metal so that it can't rust any further. No it's not reversible I'm afraid but why would you want to turn it back to rust? lol

This site is good for conserving iron, have a look and you'll see it's a method that they also recommended;
http://www.thehenryford.org/research/caring/iron.aspx

[nfl]

nice finds steve and it makes me wonder what lies below and we often walk over it without digging it up ,a roman site of mine is a example where there is loads of nulling and half squeaks due to the iron present,there is no way i could dig it all but the odd peak wouldent hurt      

[avalon]

Iron is always a problem to treat. I  tend to use various methods depending on how corroded an object is. You could try  a solution of Sodium Hydroxide then distilled water and finally sealing with microcrystalline  wax or clear lacquer.
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:3Wvw2MphoKAJ:www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc%3FAD%3DAD0754331+&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgd6rzCyMdyB51kmdA1f9HZ1iHpccTsoagDUe7Eb82cCxxyMHK1ljUwSxc_tKvf9nJInEntA-J9wXmwOdhtMB2KQ_VYlWYKq-JfU2lHSN1UX6XZTe-x0DUzUnItmwOc6r8o2T3q&sig=AHIEtbTuXtaYl_bpj4tNpqsOZJ9f4wMpfg

[woodbob123]

Method I've used is put item through a fire this will loosen or remove most things. I then have a home made tumbler which is powerfull and turns about 50 rpm max 5 min (uses a wheel chair motor) put items in a strong plastic container with some sand I use play sand, and a good strong solution of de-ruster, type you mix with water and soak items in. Couple of days turning will remove all the rust from pits and corners, if not i add a handfull of odd stainless nut's and bolts. A coat of wax after its been washed and dried.  Not for everyone but does the trick.